American Game Boards Charming To Collectors

Most of us picture our North American ancestors as laborers with little time for leisure.

But according to Country Home magazine, 18th and 19th century Americans indulged in playing games -- particularly board games -- whenever an opportunity arose.

While the women plied their needles, the men gathered around a game board and escaped, for a time, from the cares of the outside world.

The boards these men played on were not store-bought; they were made by ordinary men, not practiced artists. The homemade game boards were far from crude, however. They were often works of great imagination and simple beauty. The everyday nature and undistinguished origins of American game boards in no way diminishes their charm. In fact, it is their simple, folk-art quality that has made them so attractive to today's collectors.

Game boards made in the United States during the 1800s and late 1900s vary greatly in type, design and quality.

Some types of boards are more common than others and therefore should be less expensive antiques today. Checkerboards that date from the 1800s to the 1920s are the easiest boards to find. Parcheesi boards (actually the English game Ludo, adapted from the Indian game pachisi) generally are more difficult than checkerboards to locate. The brilliant quiltlike designs of these boards, however, make them worth searching for.

Even harder to find are the boards made for games played with marbles. Forerunners of the modern pinball machine, these long, rectangular boards have rounded tops. The channels the marbles traveled on were outlined with nails.

Boards for more unusual games, like Agon or Ringo, or boards for unique games that were concocted by the maker, are scarce and are eagerly sought by many collectors.

Game boards that are worthy of the label ''folk art,'' and that deserve a correspondingly hefty price tag, are those that are finely made and imaginatively decorated -- no matter for what game the board was made. Fanciful borders, center motifs and painted trays (the area on either side of a board where pieces were kept) all add to the value of a game board.

Unusual color combinations and careful painting add to the desirability of a board. Pairings such as blue and black, green and yellow, or green and red are often sought out.

The construction of the board (single board, breadboard with finished ends, framed, framed with trays or hinged) can help to establish its age and may make a difference in a board's price. But the painted design is the primary factor in determining value. Many collectors prefer simply constructed game boards, and others seek out boards of more complicated make.

Game-board makers sometimes drew or painted a second game on the game board. Many times, this second playing field was a simple one for Nine or Twelve Men's Morris -- a sort of advanced tic-tac-toe.

Signatures and dates on a board may make it more desirable, particularly if the name specifies the maker or the owner. As with any antique, a documented provenance greatly enhances a game board's value. Because game boards were considered rather common objects, however, documented evidence of their origins are rare.

In general, older boards are more highly valued than newer ones. Look carefully for signs of age before buying. Early boards will have paint that is worn and dull instead of shiny, and the board's corners probably will be worn. The paint also may be crazed with tiny lines or show shallow, even scratches from long use.

Be sure to watch out for modern reproductions; they should sell for a fraction of what a fine old board costs. If you're buying an expensive board, make sure the dealer is reputable.

The price of a game board may range from $25 to $1,000, depending on the type of board and where you find it. It is still possible to unearth these treasures in attics or storage sheds, though antique stores or auctions are more likely locations. Rarity influences price more than anything.

Because they lack the immediate visual impact of a painted game board, carved or inlaid boards may have lower price tags even though they exhibit great artistry. While not currently as popular as the painted variety, these finely made boards have an inherent value and subtle beauty that makes them an excellent addition to a game-board collection.